1 Question For Everyone

[How Brown]

No need to rush your answer and only provide one if you want to....thank you in advance.

The question is...and this comes from the Jack The Ripper Tabloid Killer documentary....it was mentioned by someone on the program:

As you look back at the factors or reasons that you are presently participating in studying or trying to solve the Whitechapel Murders...is it due to the Dear Boss letter more than any other ?

In addition...would you agree or disagree that the Dear Boss letter is the single most important bit of tangible evidence in terms of how important the Whitechapel Murders became known to the world ?

[Chris G.]

No need to rush your answer and only provide one if you want to....thank you in advance.

The question is...and this comes from the Jack The Ripper Tabloid Killer documentary....it was mentioned by someone on the program:

As you look back at the factors or reasons that you are presently participating in studying or trying to solve the Whitechapel Murders...is it due to the Dear Boss letter more than any other ?

In addition...would you agree or disagree that the Dear Boss letter is the single most important bit of tangible evidence in terms of how important the Whitechapel Murders became known to the world ?

Hi Howie

There's no doubt that the iconic name "Jack the Ripper" is one of the reasons the case is so famous and remains famous. So Dear Boss, whether from the killer or not, or whether a concoction of the press, as Andrew Cook and the police officials thought--naming two different journalists!--is a key ingredient in the story.

As has been commented previously, if the killer remained known as "Leather Apron" it somehow seems doubtful whether the case would be as famous. Although that having been said, there would still remain the fact that the killer was never caught and there's the mystery of how he escaped every time without detection. . . . and the sheer brutality of the crimes.

Chris

[Robert Linford]

As Chris said, the nickname "Jack the Ripper" was vital to the legend built around this case. Speaking personally, the letters themselves aren't very important at all.

[How Brown]

Excuse me Robert...and thanks for answering before I forget...

"Dear Boss" and Jack The Ripper are, in a sense,one and the same,are they not?

I know those who interested in this Sept. 17th letter may disagree....but without Dear Boss, would we have had the name Jack The Ripper ?

[Robert Linford]

How, yes of course, that's what I meant, the nickname. But since none of the letters have been proved to be frrom the killer, I don't view them as having much more significance than the Diary - a subject for discussion, certainly, but what do they tell us about the murderer?

[Debbie D]

How, yes of course, that's what I meant, the nickname. But since none of the letters have been proved to be frrom the killer, I don't view them as having much more significance than the Diary - a subject for discussion, certainly, but what do they tell us about the murderer?

While they don't tell us anything about "who done it" they definitely shine light on attitudes towards the police, the personality of a few, and fear factor it had on the public.

To answer How's question, Yes, DB drew me in as I was working on a handwriting project at the time and it came up. If it weren't for DB, Saucy etc., I doubt I would have developed a deeper appreciation for the case as a whole.

[How Brown]

Thanks Debbie. I might have confused Robert with the way I asked the question. My mistake.

I know some folks became interested due to the Maybrick Saga, the Sickert book by Mrs. Cornwell, even local lore revolving around D'onston...etc...the Royal's hook...the photo of MJK...many other enticements to be sure.

How I meant the question is in regard to how "grand" in scale the Case became for the world ( us and the civilians ).

[Jon Simons]

Hello How

I have always viewed the letter with interest rather than importance.

It didn`t change the Police investigation, and the murders already had International press coverage, and would have gone up a notch or two anyway due to the Double Event.

[SirRobertAnderson]

and the murders already had International press coverage, and would have gone up a notch or two anyway due to the Double Event.

It's interesting, isn't it, that we're using a phrase from a letter to describe the Stride and Eddowes murders ? The letters are a lens through which we view the case, whether they are real or not.

[Chris G.]

It's interesting, isn't it, that we're using a phrase from a letter to describe the Stride and Eddowes murders ? The letters are a lens through which we view the case, whether they are real or not.

Hi Sir Bob

Of course you are absolutely correct. If the letters were not from the killer they have nonetheless become part of the lore of the case, the catch phrases from the letters as much of the case as the crimes themselves, for better or worse.

Chris

[Jon Simons]

Hi Chris

But isn`t this usage more of a nod towards the creativeness of the author, rather than it`s import to the case ?

[Chris G.]

Hi Chris

But isn`t this usage more of a nod towards the creativeness of the author, rather than it`s import to the case ?

Hello Jon

As has been said, the Dear Boss letter might not have any relevance to the quest for identifying Jack the Ripper, or whomever the killer was. But I am talking about looking back in retrospect at what we know about the case, what the case is today, a phenomenon if you will that goes beyond the actual criminal investigation, and that includes some possibly peripheral things (i.e., peripheral to the investigation) such as Dear Boss.

Let me say here as well that the writer of the new book on Jack the Ripper, Andrew Cook, as well as the producers of the documentary, "Jack the Ripper: Tabloid Killer" were quite canny on focusing in on the importance of the press in the total story, including their possible role in coming up with the name "Jack the Ripper".

All the best

Chris

[Currerbell]

Was this not meant to be discussed on SPE's crib?!

[Jon Simons]

a phenomenon if you will that goes beyond the actual criminal investigation, and that includes some possibly peripheral things (i.e., peripheral to the investigation) such as Dear Boss.


That`s a good way of putting it, Chris. I`d agree with that.

[Dustin Gould]

My interest in the case has always centered around the victims themselves. There has been no definitive closure for their families. No definitive name has been documented in the history texts, to bear responsibility for what transpired. It could even be argued society learned little, if anything, from the WM. The case of Robert Pickton and his lengthy spree, is a prime example of how many individuals still view prostitutes as somehow less deserving of protection and justice.

Regarding "Dear Boss"...I feel we will always debate suspects, evidence, reports and witneseses. As many have so accurately pointed out, "Dear Boss" can neither be confirmed nor denied authenticity. So therefore, I don't base my interest on such.

What I do know based on person experience, is that letter seems to be the most widely-known aspect of the WM case. Even amongst people not directly interested in such, or before "From Hell" came out, that specific gruesome aspect always seems to stand out in their minds.